Wrapping and labeling small articles



Oct. 9, 1934. o. LAUENSTEIN WRAPPING AND LABELING SMALL ARTICLES Filed Aug. 21, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet l 7nren tor: wuens {73K Oct. 9, 1934. 0, LAuENsTElN 1,976,287

WRAPPING AND LABELING SMALL ARTICLES Filed Aug. 21, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor:

q nslem Oct. 9, 1934. o. LAUENSTEIN WRAPPING AND LABELING SMALL ARTICLES Filed Aug. 21, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 inventor UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WRAPPING AND LABELING SMALL ARTICLES Otto Lauenstein, Wernigerode-omthe-Harz, I

Germany Application August 21, 192s, Serial No. 301,061 In GermanyAugust 31, 1927.

8 Claims.

This invention refers broadly to a method and to means for the application of labels, bands or the like upon the wrapper of various articles such as for instance pieces of candy and other confectionery, pralines and the like and it is intended to facilitate the process of manufacture and manipulation and to more reliably secure the label and the like to the article, and particularly to the wrapper thereof. It is well-known that pieces of candy, pralines, chocolate tablets and the like are frequently provided with a label or band after having been previously wrapped up in paper or in a piece of metal foil. It is, for instance, well-known that the label, band or the like is placed around the finished wrapped arti-. cle, or according to another suggestion the band, label or the like is folded along with the wrapper and is secured in position by pasting. The method first-mentioned of placing the label or the like around the completely wrapped article is inconvenient, inasmuch as it necessitates a special kind of machine and therefore special attendants. The other method, however, of folding the wrapper up with the label can only be used in exceptional cases. i

Now in accordance with this invention the label or the like is applied by means of the wrapping instrumentality after the commencement or before the termination of the wrapping procedure. In case the wrapping up of the article is effected by passing it together with the wrapping sheet through a suitable die, mould or the like and by means of a stamp or male die, the label or the like in accordance with this invention, is placed upon the wrapper after the article has been passed through the die but before the bending over of the projecting edges of the substantially U-shaped or cap-shaped wrapper which usually projects on one side of the article. It is advantageous in this connection to make the label or the like somewhat longer than the wrapping sheet, so that its end which projects beyond the edge of the wrapping sheet becomes adapted to place itself upon the other end of the label, so that it may be pasted thereon. The means employed for the carrying out of the method of this invention preferably comprise a ring-shaped or fork-shaped aspirator or suction means which takes oif the label from the pile of labels and by way of an instrumentality for the application of mucilage inserts it into the space between the die and the means for the bending of the edge, so that the article to be wrapped up is first passed by means of the stamp or male die together with the wrapping sheet through a'female die or the like, and

then together with the label or the like through the suction device, whereupon the edge positioning device places the edges of the wrapping sheet together with the ends of the label or the like against the article and at the same time pastes the ends of the label together.

Among other advantages the new method is distinguished by the fact that by this treatment both regularly shaped as well as irregularly shaped articles may be satisfactorily provided with the label, band or the like, while in accordance with the previous methods a special kind of machine or separate arrangement became necessary.

A constructional form-of a machine according 4 to the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings.

Figure l is a vertical section through the machine according to the line II in Figure 2.

Figure 2 is a vertical section according to the line II'II in Figure 1.

Figure 3 shows the cams and controlling levers adapted to operate the banderole container.

Figures 4 and 5 are longitudinal sections through the female die, while the male die or stamp which carries the praline is shown in both figures in diiferent positions.

Figure 6 shows the relative position of the wrapping sheet and the banderole strip or label band as seen from above prior to the wrapping procedure.

Figure 7 is a plan view of the gripping device and the wrapping members.

Fig. 8 is a plan view of the drive of the wrapping member. 1 V

The female die e forming an essential part of the wrapping device is secured on the machine frame 1 by means of the bracket 2, on which the guide plates c for the wrapping paper d are also mounted. The container 3-for the articles to be wrapped, in the present case the pralines, which is adapted to feed these articles engages below the said guide plates. There also belongs to this wrapp n device the male die or stamp 12' which during its upward movement moves through the 10( container 3, the paper guide plates 0, the female die e and the suction device or aspirator 3 adapted for feeding the labels or banderoles.

The male die or stamp b is operated by the cam disk 4 by means of the bell-crank lever 5 l0:

and the link 6. The bell-crank lever 5 engages in other end of the bell-crank lever 5 and to the rod of the stamp or die 17.

The suction device or aspirator f is rectilinearly guided in a bracket 8 secured on the machine frame 1. The suction device is reciprocated by the cam disk 9 by means of the lever 10, link 11 and lever 12 and link i. The lever 10 is pivotally mounted at 13 on the machine frame and carries a roller 14 which engages in the cam disk 9. The link 11 is attached to the free end of the lever 10 and the other end is connected at 15 to the lever 12. This is connected at 16 to the machine frame and at its free end to the link i.

A gripping device 18 adapted to rotate on the shaft 17 is arranged above the female die e and the suction device f. The gripping device 18 is provided with grippers it one of which is always disposed vertically-above the female die c. There are known wiping means provided below the gripping device 18 which fold or bend over the edges which freely project downwardly from the praline after its passage through the female die.

19 is the feed path for the wrapping paper. The feeding means are known per se and therefore not shown.

The banderoles or labels are provided in the container is. In this container a plate m is adapted to be moved vertically. The containeris provided above with thin projections l, against which the banderoles or labels are pressed by means of the plate m. The container is is mounted on the plate n which is adapted to move vertically up and down on guides 20.

The plate m is mounted on the rod 21 which is adapted to move vertically in the frame and is pressed upward by the spring 22. The rod 21 is periodically moved downward by a pair of tongs 23 against the action of the said spring. The legs of this pair of tongs are constantly drawn together by a spring 24 so that they grip the rod 21 in the position as shown in the drawings. The legs of the tongs 23 are connected at 25 to the lever 26 which is mounted at 2'7 in the frame. A roller 28 (Figs. 1 and 3) secured to the lever is controlled by the cams 29. When the legs of the tongs during the upward movement come in contact with the inclined guiding surfaces 30, they open and liberate the rod 21 so that the latter is only subjected to the action of the spring 22. During the downward movement, the legs 23-of the tongs slide off the guiding surfaces 30 so that they grip the rod 21 and draw it downward against the action of the spring 22. The container k is moved up and down by a cam 31 which acts on the roller 33 mounted on the lever 32 whereby the lever 32 rocks up and down. The link 34 is attached to the lever 32 and the upper end of the link is connected to the plate 12. so that the container k participates in the upward and downward movements of the lever 32. The earns 29 and 31 are so designed and arranged that when the container is has reached its upper position, the pair of tongs 23 has also reached its upper position so that the plate -m and the spring 22 pressed from below against the banderoles or ribbon-shaped labels 9 in the container is. The wrapping of the projecting edge portions of the wrapper takes place successively when the gripping device 18 is at a standstill.- The wrapping process is divided into three parts. First of all, the two wrapping members 38, 39 are applied against two opposite points transversely to the banderole. When the gripping device 18 has made a quarter rotation, the third side of the projecting edge portions is applied by the wrapping member 40. The fourth side of the projecting edge portions, namely the side with the overlapping end 91 of the banderole g is applied last of all during the periodical further rotation of the gripping device by a roller 41 secured to the machine frame. The opening of the gripper h is then effected by a lever 42 so that the wrapped praline drops in the discharge chute 43.

The wrapping members are driven from a cam 44 (Fig. 8) which is mounted on the vertical shaft of the Maltese cross driving mechanism 35. The wrapping member 40 mounted on the vertical shaft 48 moves over a lever 45, link 46 and lever 47. A toothed segment 49 mounted on the vertical shaft 48 engages with a corresponding toothed segment 50 on a vertical shaft 51. During the rocking movement of the vertical shaft 48, the vertical shaft 51 is also rocked and with it the wrapping member 39 which is mounted on the shaft. The wrapping member 38, which is rotatably mounted on the vertical shaft 51 derives its wrapping movement through the medium of a lever 52 and link 53 mounted on the wrapping member 40.

The rocking movement of the vertical shaft 48 is also transmitted by a link 54 to a vertical shaft 55 on which the lever 42 for opening the gripper h is mounted. The suction device ,1 reaches its left end position before the banderole or label container It has reached its highest position so that the suction device is located above the banderole container. During the last part of the upward movement of the banderole container, the banderoles or labels are pressed against the lower surface of the suction device so that the uppermost banderole or label is gripped by the suction of the suction device. After the uppermost banderole is gripped, the pair of tongs 23 is lowered and with it the rod 21 and the plate m so that the other banderoles or labels are moved downward so as not to be affected during the subsequent feed of the upper banderole. After the lowering of the plate m the container 7c is also lowered so that the banderole gripped by the suction device 1 passes out of same upwardly. The suction device then moves to the right (Fig. 1) so that the banderole gripped by the suction device is moved over the gluing device 10 and then over the female die e. The gluing device p consists of the roller 1' which rotates in a glue container and delivers the glue over an intermediate roller s to the glue-applying roller t. The latter is periodically raised and lowered by means of a cam 11 acting on the bell-crank lever 12.

The periodical rotation of the gripping device 18 is effected by a Maltese cross driving mechanism 35 shown in Figure 2. The container 3 is operated by the toothed wheel gearing 36, the first wheel of which is mounted on the shaft 17 so that the container 3 is moved simultaneously with the gripping device 18. The air pump which supplies the suction device is indicated at 37.

The operation of the wrapping device is as follows:

The article a to be wrapped, which may be a praline, a cholocate egg, 2. bar, a neapolitan, or a small cake, is first guided by means of the male die or stamp b through an opening of the plates 0 between which the wrapping sheet (1 is retained. This sheet has previously been cut off by a pair of scissors from a continuous strip of paper, tinfoil or the like. When passing through the plate 0 the article a, for instance, a praline, carries the sheet d with it. When the praline and the stamp or male die pass through the female die 0, the sheet (1 bears tightly against the side faces of the-praline-by means of the elastic liningof the a rees? female die comprising, for instance, bristles, rubher or the like. The edge of the sheet 11 projects from the lower surface after the praline has passed through the female die 2. The said edge envelops or surrounds the upper part of the stamp or male die 2). Finally, the praline 11 passes with the sheet d folded around it through the opening or" the fork-shaped or ring-shaped suction device f so that the banderole strip g held at the bottom of the suction device passes around the sheet at enveloping the praline and adheres thereto by means of the glue provided on its lower side. Finally and after passing through the gripper f the praline a, which is carried by the male die or stamp 12 passes together with the enveloping sheet d and the banderole into a gripper h of the gripping device 18 and is gripped by the latter. The wiping plates (not shown) then place the downwardly projecting edge portions of the wrapper together with the downwardly projecting end of the banderole strip against the lower side of the praline.

As is shown in Figure 6, one end 91 of the ends of the banderole strip g projects beyond the edge of the tinfoil d in consequence of a corresponding guiding of the suction device 1. The side of the edge projecting downward from the praline after the passage of the various devices-on which side this longer end of the banderole strip is provided-is finally positioned by the wiping plates so that projecting end of the banderole strip covers the other non-projecting end and is aflixed thereto by the glue coating thereon.

I claim:

1. Means for wrapping and labeling articles consisting in an axially movable article carrier, wrapper guide means having an aperture to receive the carrier and adapted to maintain a wrapper in position to be engaged by an article advancing with the carrier, means for preliminarily and partially folding a wrapper about an article during its advance with the carrier, label retaining means for supporting a label in the path of the article and wrapper moving with the carrier, said label retaining means acting to cause the application of a label to the preliminarily folded wrapper.

2. Means for wrapping and labeling articles consisting in an axially movable article carrier, wrapper guide means having an aperture to receive the carrier and adapted to maintain a wrapper in position to be engaged by an article advancing with the carrier, means for preliminarily and partially folding a wrapper about an article during its advance with the carrier, label retaining means for supporting a label in the path of the article and wrapper moving with the carrier, said label retaining means acting to cause the application of a label to the preliminarily folded wrapper, label supply means associated with the label retaining means, said label retaining means being movable to a position to pick up a label from the supply means and transfer it to a position in the path of the article moving withthe carrier, and means for applying adhesive to the label.

3. Means for wrapping and labeling articles consisting in an axially movable article carrier, wrapper guide means having an aperture to receive the carrier and adapted to maintain a wrapper in position to be engaged by an article advancing with the carrier, means for preliminarily and partially folding a wrapper about an article during its advance with the carrier, label retaining means for supporting a label in the path of the article and wrapper moving with the carrier, said label retaining means acting to cause the application of a label to the preliminarily folded wrapper, said label retaining means including a substantially ring-shaped sucker normally occupying a position substantially coaxial with the folding means and movable laterally relative thereto.

4. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1, characterized by the provision of means for completing the folding of the wrapper about the article.

5. A method of wrapping and labeling articles consisting in moving an article into contact with a wrapper, then subjecting the wrapper to yielding action to fold the same around the article, and

then applying a label to the wrapper.

6. A method of wrapping and-labeling articles consisting in moving an article into contact with the Wrapper to initially fold the same thereupon, then subjecting the wrapper to a yielding action to complete the folding thereof around the article,

a label to the part of the wrapper previously applied to the article, and folding together the v 

